Millie Dienert

==Association with Billy Graham==
Mildred Elsner married Fred Dienert, who was a partner in Walter Bennett Communications. The Pennsylvania-based agency represented ministries broadcasting on radio and television, such as [[G. E. Lowman]], [[Billy Graham]], and others.<ref>{{cite news|title=Walter F. Bennett, head of an advertising agency|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/12/05/Walter-F-Bennett-head-of-an-advertising-agency-instrumental/4917344840400/|date=December 5, 1980|publisher=[[United Press International]]|access-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref> By the mid-1960s, her husband was the [[television producer]] for the Billy Graham Crusades and she helped Graham by organizing prayer groups in advance of his crusades.<ref name=rice /> So successful were her efforts for the 1966 London Crusade that Graham asked her to continue this role thereafter and Dienert's prayer groups became a regular part of the advance preparations for Graham's worldwide crusades.<ref name=BGEA /> Eventually, Dienert became known as the "first lady of prayer".<ref name=HOU>{{cite news|first=Kristin E.|last=Holmes|title=She's Billy Graham's 'first lady of prayer'|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=November 10, 2001|url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/She-s-Billy-Graham-s-first-lady-of-prayer-2066164.php|access-date=March 9, 2021}}</ref> In writing his 1996 book, ''With God on Our Side'',<ref>''With God on Our Side'', {{oclc|34742166}}.</ref> author William C. Martin included in his research the role of Dienert in Billy Graham's crusades. His research material is now preserved at [[Rice University]]'s [[Woodson Research Center]].<ref name=rice>{{cite web|title=4/30/87 - Columbia, South Carolina- Millie Diener, wife of Fred Dienert, who oversaw Billy Graham broadcasting for decades. She organized prayer efforts for crusades|publisher=[[Woodson Research Center]]|url=http://archives.library.rice.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/195984|access-date=March 10, 2021}}</ref>